# Contributing factors for Developmental Coordination Disorder

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-known-contributing-factors-for-developmental-coordination-disorder-in-early-childhood
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

DCD is multifactorial: the strongest contributor is preterm birth and low birth weight, alongside genetic/familial liability, prenatal exposures (including antenatal alcohol and IUGR), and atypical cerebellar–parietal–corticostriatal motor-network development. It commonly co-occurs with ADHD, language disorder and SLD. These are contributing influences, not deterministic causes; function defines diagnosis.

*The child who trips, fumbles fasteners and dreads PE rarely presents with a single cause — DCD is multifactorial from the start.*

## In short
Developmental Coordination Disorder (ICD-11 **6A04**) has no single aetiology. The strongest and most consistent contributors are **preterm birth and low birth weight**, which sharply raise risk, alongside genetic and familial loading, prenatal exposures, and atypical neurodevelopment of the cerebellar–parietal–prefrontal motor networks. It is a disorder of motor *learning and execution*, not of acquired neurological injury, and is diagnosed only when difficulties are disproportionate to age and not explained by another condition.

## The science, briefly
Known and probable contributing factors include:

- **Prematurity / very low birth weight** — the most robust risk factor; risk rises with decreasing gestational age.
- **Genetic and familial liability** — heritability is well recognised, with frequent familial clustering.
- **Prenatal and perinatal exposures** — antenatal alcohol exposure, intrauterine growth restriction, and perinatal adversity.
- **Neural substrate** — neuroimaging implicates altered cerebellar, parietal and corticostriatal connectivity and impaired internal forward-modelling of movement.
- **High comorbidity** — frequent overlap with ADHD, language disorder and SLD, suggesting shared neurodevelopmental pathways rather than DCD as an isolated entity.

These are *contributing* influences, not deterministic causes; a child with several may show no impairment, while another with none may meet criteria. Function — not history — defines the diagnosis.

## The Pinnacle way
Developmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional., under qualified clinician care — never from a checklist or an online tool. Our pathway pairs structured motor profiling with [occupational therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) targeting task-specific motor learning. Explore the [DCD overview](https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/developmental-coordination-disorder) and how the [AbilityScore is established](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated).

## Trusted sources
WHO ICD-11 (6A04); EACD international clinical practice recommendations on DCD; peer-reviewed neurodevelopmental literature on prematurity and motor outcomes.

**Next step —** Refer a child with disproportionate, persistent motor difficulty for structured assessment — [partner with a Pinnacle clinician](https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/developmental-coordination-disorder).

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

## Sources
- WHO ICD-11: Developmental motor coordination disorder: https://icd.who.int/browse/2024-01/mms/en#1939272431
- EACD: international clinical practice recommendations on DCD: https://www.eacd.org

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Conditions: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/conditions
- Doctor: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/doctor
- Motor: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/motor
- Influence: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/influence
- Screen: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/screen
- Special Education: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/special-education
- Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity

## Related question paths

### Understand the subject
- Is Developmental Coordination Disorder genetic or hereditary?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-developmental-coordination-disorder-genetic-or-hereditary
- What causes Developmental Coordination Disorder in children?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-causes-developmental-coordination-disorder-in-children
- What is Developmental Coordination Disorder and its ICD-11 features?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood
- What is Developmental Coordination Disorder, and what does it look like in early childhood?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-what-does-it-look-like-in-early-childhood
- ICD-11 Classification of Developmental Coordination Disorder (6A04): https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-developmental-coordination-disorder
- SNOMED CT Concept for Developmental Coordination Disorder: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-snomed-ct-concept-for-developmental-coordination-disorder
- How Developmental Coordination Disorder Affects a Child's Daily Life: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-developmental-coordination-disorder-affect-a-child-s-daily-life
- Is Developmental Coordination Disorder Considered a Disability?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-developmental-coordination-disorder-considered-a-disability
- What are common myths about Developmental Coordination Disorder?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-common-myths-about-developmental-coordination-disorder
- What are the types or levels of Developmental Coordination Disorder?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-developmental-coordination-disorder
- What current research shows about early intervention for DCD under 7: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-current-research-show-about-early-intervention-outcomes-for-developmental-coordination-disorder-in-children-under-7
- What is Developmental Coordination Disorder?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-developmental-coordination-disorder

### Recognise signs & concerns
- Clinical red flags for DCD that warrant referral: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-clinical-red-flags-for-developmental-coordination-disorder-warrant-referral-in-a-young-child
- Early Indicators of Developmental Coordination Disorder: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-early-indicators-of-developmental-coordination-disorder-should-a-paediatrician-watch-for
- When to Refer Suspected DCD for Developmental Therapy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/when-should-a-doctor-refer-a-child-with-suspected-developmental-coordination-disorder-for-developmental-therapy
- Can Developmental Coordination Disorder be cured?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-developmental-coordination-disorder-be-cured
- Can Developmental Coordination Disorder be prevented?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-developmental-coordination-disorder-be-prevented
- What are the early signs of Developmental Coordination Disorder in young children?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/developmental-coordination-disorder-02-what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-coordination
- Do boys show Developmental Coordination Disorder differently?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/do-boys-show-developmental-coordination-disorder-differently
- DCD in Girls: Does It Look Different?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/do-girls-show-developmental-coordination-disorder-differently
- Spotting Possible DCD Early at a Community Visit: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-frontline-health-worker-spot-a-child-with-possible-developmental-coordination-disorder-early
- Should I be worried about Developmental Coordination Disorder?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/should-i-be-worried-my-child-might-have-developmental-coordination-disorder
- Early Signs of Developmental Coordination Disorder: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-coordination-disorder
- Early signs of DCD in a 1-year-old boy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-developmental-coordination-disorder-in-a-1-year-old-boy

### Explore causes & influences
- What Causes Developmental Coordination Disorder in Young Children?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-causes-developmental-coordination-disorder-in-young-children
- Are boys more likely to have Developmental Coordination Disorder?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/are-boys-more-likely-to-have-developmental-coordination-disorder
- Are girls more likely to have Developmental Coordination Disorder?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/are-girls-more-likely-to-have-developmental-coordination-disorder
- Early DCD Intervention and UN Child Rights: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-early-intervention-for-developmental-coordination-disorder-advance-un-child-rights-uncrpd-and-the-sdgs
- Cost-effectiveness of early therapy for Developmental Coordination Disorder: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-cost-effectiveness-of-early-therapy-for-developmental-coordination-disorder-in-young-children
- Prevalence and public-health burden of DCD in India: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-prevalence-and-public-health-burden-of-developmental-coordination-disorder-among-young-children-in-india

### Understand assessment
- DCD screening and diagnostic pathway in children under 7: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-recommended-screening-and-diagnostic-pathway-for-developmental-coordination-disorder-in-children-under-7
- How the AbilityScore Tracks Progress in DCD: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-abilityscore-track-progress-in-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder
- How Developmental Coordination Disorder Is Assessed in a Young Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-developmental-coordination-disorder-assessed-in-a-young-child
- How is Developmental Coordination Disorder assessed in children under 7?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-developmental-coordination-disorder-assessed-in-children-under-7
- What does an AbilityScore of 0–100 mean for a child with Developmental Coordination Disorder?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-mean-for-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder
- What an AbilityScore of 100–200 Means for a Child with DCD: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-100-200-mean-for-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder
- What an AbilityScore of 200–300 means for a child with DCD: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-mean-for-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder
- What an AbilityScore of 300–400 means for a child with DCD: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-300-400-mean-for-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder
- What does an AbilityScore of 400–500 mean for a child with Developmental Coordination Disorder?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-400-500-mean-for-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder
- AbilityScore 500–600 in Developmental Coordination Disorder: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-500-600-mean-for-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder
- What an AbilityScore of 600–700 means for a child with DCD: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-600-700-mean-for-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder
- AbilityScore 700–800 in Developmental Coordination Disorder: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-700-800-mean-for-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder

### Explore therapy & support
- How is Developmental Coordination Disorder diagnosed in a child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-developmental-coordination-disorder-diagnosed-in-a-child
- Supporting a Child with DCD Day to Day: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/as-a-grandparent-or-caregiver-how-can-i-support-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder-day-to-day
- Can a Child with Developmental Coordination Disorder Attend Mainstream School?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder-attend-a-mainstream-school
- Can a Child with Developmental Coordination Disorder Attend a Regular School?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder-attend-a-regular-school
- Can a Child with Developmental Coordination Disorder Live Independently?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder-grow-up-to-live-independently
- How a Classroom Teacher Can Help a Child with DCD: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-classroom-teacher-help-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder-take-part-and-learn
- How a district early intervention programme can identify and support under-7s with DCD: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-district-early-intervention-programme-identify-and-support-children-under-7-with-developmental-coordination-disorder
- How can a teacher include and support a young child with DCD in a mainstream classroom?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-a-teacher-include-and-support-a-young-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder-in-a-mainstream-classroom
- How to Support Motor Development in a Child with DCD: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-we-support-motor-development-in-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder
- How therapy helps a child with DCD make progress: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-therapy-help-a-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder-make-progress
- How Therapy Supports Developmental Coordination Disorder: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-developmental-coordination-disorder-supported-through-therapy
- My Child's AbilityScore for DCD — What to Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder-has-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-what-should-we-do-next

### At home & in everyday life
- How can I support my child with Developmental Coordination Disorder at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-my-child-with-developmental-coordination-disorder-at-home